Alta-Kautokeino watercourse (3150)
Norway, Europe
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Year of last assessment: 2014
National site name: Alta-Kautokeino elvedal
Central coordinates: Latitude: 69.5500, Longitude: 23.6167
System: terrestrial
Elevation (m): 100 to 600
Area of KBA (km2): 197.61922
Protected area coverage (%): 0.12
KBA classification: Regional
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: A section of the Alta-Kautokeinoelva valley between Masi and Alta, the northern part being deeper and steeper than the southern part, which is flatter with bogs and lakes.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that was identified using previously established criteria and thresholds for the identification of Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) and for which available data indicate that it does not meet global KBA criteria and thresholds set out in the Global Standard.
Additional biodiversity: The valley is rich in breeding raptors; nine species are present, but no recent estimates of numbers are available.
Delineation rationale: Delineation largely follows the river valley formed by the river Altaelva. Arve Østlyngen helped to define the boundary of the extended IBA in 2014.
Habitats
Land use: water management
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: The river has been dammed, creating a 20 km long lake which has destroyed a large area of valuable wetland habitat, including broadleaved riverine forest of birch Betula.